Vol. 1, Issue 8, Part F (2015)

Abstract
One of the adult bull elephant which was rescued and brought to our ‘Elephant Conservation Care Centre’ at Mathura was showed symptoms of limping in right leg and mild swelling noticed on knee joints as well as fetlock joint. The symptomatic treatment were provided but no improvement noticed, the swelling at the knee joint further increased in size. Hence the animal showing severe lameness and reluctant to move, the attempt was made to collect the fluid for microbiological and antibiotic sensitivity test and drained the fluid from the edematous swelling by apply trochar & canula. However 300 ml of clean watery fluid evacuated from the swelling, not much improvement noticed. The culture report also not revealed any bacterial infection. After hemato-biochemical analysis the treatment decided with therapeutic ultrasound aided physiotherapy with dose of 3 MHz, continuous, with the intensity of 2 W/cm2 for 15 minutes after applying liquid paraffin as a conducting medium. After the sonation Iodine ointment with Methyl Salicylate and Di-Methyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixed past applied on swelling. The therapy was fallowed twice daily for 10 days. From second day onwards the animal started responding to the treatment. The mahout advised to make the elephant walk slowly by Positive Reinforcement Training Techniques (Laule et al) to provide mild exercise. The physiotherapy stopped after 10th day and advised to continue the topical application and exercise till complete healing. The swelling and limping reduced on 15th day.